Just a theory. Just a hunch after watching both these guys fight for over a decade. That's all it is. It's a possibility. And I don't rule out possibilities just like I don't rule out that it was legitimate as it appeared to others. To me Mike picked a very opportune moment to not be Mike. And GSP picked a very opportune moment to submit an opponent which he did after 4 years layoff and has not done in ten years and did it to a guy who doesn't get submitted. Little things that add up to possibilities.
You have been watching these fighters for over a decade and the conclusion you come to that the fight may have been fixed? Because that's what you are alluding to.
Here are some points to consider:
1) Fight fixing is almost non existent in modern MMA in the Western world. The boxing model where the champ had to stay the champ to make money off his fame has been discarded by MMA. They don't care who wins, they can just promote the other guy.
We know there were fixed fights in Pride but not in UFC. Other than that one incident in Bang vs Kuntz (again by Asian gamblers).....other than that, nothing that we can prove. Not even a highly suspicious fight that I can remember.
And if they were going to do it, it's to beat bookies in a low profile fight.....not to determine a champion of the sport with the eyes of the world watching.
Zuffa set it up so that no matter who wins UFC makes money and Endeavor seems to be on the same path.
2) Mike was on his way to beating GSP, maybe
The reason it was such an exciting fight is because it looked like Mike took back the momentum. The scenario that Rocksalt described was coming to fruition (maybe). I say maybe because GSP claims he wasn't gassed, he just decided to give up the second round so he could recover.
3) Mike's eye might be worse than we think
GSP mentioned it was a weakness he exploited. Getting hit by a jab you barely see coming will slow you down. Maybe it took GSP to exploit that in a way that other fighters have not
4) Mike and GSP have trained together ten years ago.
And as we know GSP ragdolled him. Sure Bisping said he got better but that gets into your head no matter what. Even a tiny bit of doubt is a huge burden facing a guy like GSP.
5) Mike's expectations
Mike looked like he was 100% sure that GSP would strike with him for long and he would rush in for a scared takedown. Mike felt like it was his striking that made him the 185 king and a WW wrestler wouldn't dare strike with him. So for a lot of the fight Bisping fought ready to defend the takedown.......which is GSP's game. When you're defending TDD he strikes and when you are striking he takes you down. Mike was not able to fight fluid.
6) Fighting GSP is usually the biggest fight of your life
Everytime someone fights GSP they just don't understand the magnitude of the event until they get in there. Veteran fighters end up looking like it's their first fight in the UFC. Mike looked like he got a bit of that......and as good of a trash talker as he is, he was probably exhausted by the end. If he normally does 8 interviews before a fight, he was doing 40 for this event.
And because the stakes are so high, they REALLY want to win. And that makes them not relaxed. And not relaxed makes them not fluid and hesitant.
7) Talk of GSP's layoff is overplayed
He trained nearly every day since he left. He even said after the fight that the only time he felt ring rust was with GNP because you can't really GNP in practice. The time off seemed to have rejuvenated his spirit and probably have a brain a nice vacation from concussions.
He does look older and he surely is losing 4 years of fighting life but considering he looked very good.
8) The Submission
Bisping is great at fighting off submissions but I even called it before the fight and GSP did it. Bisping takes HUGE risks to get back up. He is willing to give up his back to get up. You can't do that against a guy as skilled as GSP.
Also he tried to do it after taking VIOLENT GNP right before.
9) Style matchup
Strikers often look hesitant when facing wrestlers that they know are superior. And the Vegas odds reflected that.
10) Mike's not a counter striker but he fancies himself as one sometimes.
He's not good enough at it to counter a smaller/faster fighter with high level striking.
11) GSP isn't just any fighter. He's the GOAT. We throw the word GOAT around here a lot. But think about that for a second he the GREATEST OF ALL TIME. He may be giving up a little size but he is simply that much better than Bisping. Not only has GSP made almost all competition look really bad, he's fought monsters his entire career.
All his opponents say that once he's in front of you it's just not something you can prepare for. You can't find a training partner that can move like a gazelle and charge you like a bull with a huge variety of strikes.
I love Mike but he spent half his career fighting cans. This is why everyone is shocked he actually won a title. That's the beauty of MMA though.....stick around and you could end up being the man.